Newsletter: October 2016

Afghanistan, Somalia, Syria and Ukraine are all countries that are the scene of bitter conflicts, some of which have been ongoing for many years. They are often resolved by force of arms. This is why peace and conflict research has long been one of the most important fields of international study. How can the causes of conflicts be identified at the earliest possible stage? Which steps could be taken to prevent them being resolved violently? Which political regulations are conceivable? Researchers in Germany are addressing these questions with exciting ideas and projects. You can also read about the impressive career that took a young man from Britain to Germany, first on a scholarship and now as a fully-fledged researcher, learn about current funding programmes and discover our number of the month.

IN FOCUS: Peace and conflict research

Millions of people around the world suffer the consequences of wars and conflicts, such as displacement, famine and violence. Research projects in Germany are exploring peaceful solutions and are helping to ease the political situation worldwide.

What actually happens when peace is officially declared in a country? Do people immediately find themselves living in a better world when a civil war comes to an end? Researchers at the GIGA – the German Institute of Global and Area Studies – are exploring what needs to happen so that people can live peacefully together again after a civil war.

Education is one of the keys to the future. This is no less true for refugees living in Germany. Education can open up new opportunities for them. In a number of different initiatives, Germany is promoting refugee integration through education.

CAREER & FUNDING

The biologist Sam Hardman spent a year on a German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) scholarship conducting research at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in the small southern German town of Seewiesen. He has now secured a research position for himself there. In our interview, he explained why he could not imagine a better place for his future research.

Through its Development-Related Postgraduate Courses, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) supports the education of professionals from developing countries and emerging economies. The closing date for applications depends on the course in question.

The Consolidator Grants awarded by the European Research Council (ERC) support promising researchers at the start of an independent career. Applications will probably be invited from 20 October 2016, with a closing date on 9 February 2017.

NUMBER OF THE MONTH

That’s how much money companies and venture capitalists are investing in German start-up Konux. Its aim is nothing less than to revolutionise the transport industry. A real success story, it all started at the Technical University of Munich.